Course maps are not finalized yet, but here are some of the key changes to the DuNat courses that were decided yesterday:
On-road age group championships
The bike course will have three loops instead of four. Switchbacks and sharp turns have been taken out.
The run course will be all on-road. The first 10k will be one simple fast loop. It’ll have rolling hills and will still be challenging, just less repetitive than last year. The second 5k will be the most scenic part of the course along the canal and will also be the most difficult.
Off-road championships
Both run courses are new with the first 7 miler over hilly very challenging terrain.
The bike course will be the same one used in previous XTERRA competitions
Overall, the changes that were made (less loops, twists and turns, etc.) were done in an effort to reduce congestion and make the courses simpler for the athletes, but also still very challenging.
It’s noteworthy that Mike Plumb, the Duathlon Commission Chairman and a 2008 competitor said the on-road courses are now ‘a night and day difference’ compared to last year.
I’ll provide more info as it becomes available, but wanted to get this to you now since it addresses a lot of your concerns. So, let’s hear it…what do you think???
I guess we will all see what the new courses are like when we get there. The rain last year certainly didn’t help & with the mix of speeds out there, you really had to keep your eyes open for the entire bike. I hope there’s more room to get around people on the new course. I liked the up & down of last year’s course and the switchback hill near transition, so I hope there’s still some hills to break things up.
I also liked the mix of running surfaces, but the ramps onto & off of the foot bridge would’ve really been a problem if more people had competed.
Let’s just hope that more people will show up next year. Since it’s before triathlon season for most everyone, why not come out & give it a shot.
We’re just going to make sure the weather is good!
Contingency plans will be in place, but hopefully we won’t have to go that route. And in terms of rain washing things onto the course, we’re planning on hand-blowing the streets in addition to the city street cleaners.
This is a serious question. If I come out from Calif, it is going to cost a lot of money. I just about came out for Kansas city, and we all know what happened then. So, with a race that early in the year on the east coast,
I ask again, what are the backup plans if the weather cancels the race on race day?
And the only thing you would get at the end of April is heavy rain. Too early for a hurricane level thing, too late for snow/ice.
Good to hear about the course alterations! I figured looking at the times last year that it had to be challenging/technical as the numbers on paper did not look that fast.
Sweet! This is great news. I raced in 2008 and quietly in my head hoped there would be changes for next year. Not sure what I am happy about more…the bike course change, or having the run on all road surface. Both great and should make for some fast times. Although I did like those few hills in the bike course.
One of the USAT criteria now, after the mess with KC, is there must be a backup plan for the things that could happen that should not. Again, I am asking if a huge lightening storm hits, or hail or whatever, and the race day has to be cancelled, what is the backup plan the USAT demands must be in place now.
Thanks. I know when I took the training from USAT to be a certified race director, we talked at length about the KC situation, and how USAT had no backup plans. I clearly remember hearing from Kathy on others at that training that going forward, having a backup plan for the totally unexpected, like the race has to be cancelled for that day, must be ready, and communicated to folks signing up for the race. So, as I said, since it is a very expensive race to get to from the West coast, and the time of the year does provide a large risk of something happening, I am just asking for what USAT told me had to be done. Now, this shall be interesting to see what you provide in details, since in my experience in life, many times folks talk a great line, but do not always walk the talk. So, I guess I am testing was USAT serious about what they told us about formal backup plans in the certification class that I took. I know this will make some pissed at me, but, sure seems like a fair request for a Nationals event. (One of the negatives being born with engineering genetics.)
More thoughts. I am thinking about doing multiple nationals next year, so I think ALL Nationals should be publishing these plans on their website for all to see. This also should state what will happen to Worlds spots if there is no race.
That is good news we will have to see as I hope to pre ride the course. Did mike pre ride it just look at the lay out? Remember there are a lot of thunder storms around that time of the yaer so o hope you blocked out the entire day for street closures just in case the start haa to be pushed back a few hours or you will be forced to call it off like the recent cape henry du.
So, there was a Du race cancelled because of weather? And they had no backup plans? This is my concern. I could end up spending thousand of dollars, like folks did at KC, and end up with what? I also did this at Vancouver, so am at least trying to understand before I spend all the money, what the backup plans are. Meaning, lets just say one plan is to race the next day. If we know this, maybe we would attempt to change how we book hotels and plane tickets. Anyways, I am not attempting to make extra work for anyone, but just get what I was told by USAT were requirements for planning Nationals after the KC mess. (I guess I am not as concern about Auburn Nationals since I can just about walk to the race. )
Looked at the 38k, 3 lap course you now have posted on the website. Looks a lot better. But how will you prevent people from making an inadvertent right turn off the bridge just before the 4km mark onto S. 2nd st. instead of continuing straight up to Spring St.???
A thunderstorm came through around the time of the race and looked like it would be around for awhile so they called the race after holding off for about 30 minutes past the start time. About 20 minutes after the race was called you could see clear skies…however, my understanding is that a lot of races only get a set amount of time to have the streets closed so if you can not start at a certain time, you can’t postpone it for a couple hours and start later.
You must have some money to start with if you are considering flying across the country for a short course du especially when you have the long course in your backyard. Unless I planned to win it, I would never be able to go across the country for a race and can barely get my wife to let me out my own backyard.
You must have some money to start with if you are considering flying across the country for a short course du especially when you have the long course in your backyard. Unless I planned to win it, I would never be able to go across the country for a race and can barely get my wife to let me out my own backyard.
I think it comes with doing tris, at somepoint they will be canceled. I’d go find the closest theme park and ride rides all day haha.
Nope, that is the point, I do not have lots of money. What really opened my eyes to this is when I did Vancouver this year, and it was turned into a Du race. I had never thought about there really should be more than just the race since it costs lots of money and what if it were stopped.
I asked the wife if she would like to go to Richmond, and she said yes. So, the ONLY way I will try to get on a plane, is if there is a race with carrots. Now, she would like to go to NC also. So, the this is the only reason I am thinking about it. Otherwise yep, I would never spend this kind of money for any race.